ˈkɔnʃəns n. 1 a
moral sense of
right and wrong esp. as felt by a
person and affecting
behaviour (my conscience won't
allow me to do that). 2 an
inner feeling as to
the goodness or
otherwise of one's behaviour (my conscience is
clear;
has a
guilty conscience). øcase of conscience a
matter in
which one's conscience has to
decide a
conflict of principles. conscience
clause a clause in a
law, ensuring
respect for the consciences of
those affected. conscience
money a
sum paid to
relieve one's conscience, esp.
about a
payment previously evaded. conscience-stricken (or -struck)
made uneasy by a
bad conscience. for conscience (or conscience') sake to
satisfy one's conscience.
freedom of conscience a
system allowing
all citizens a
free choice of
religion. in all conscience colloq. by
any reasonable standard; by all
that is fair. on one's conscience causing
one feelings of
guilt.
prisoner of conscience a person imprisoned by a
State for
holding political or
religious views it
does not tolerate. øøconscienceless adj. [ME f. OF f. L conscientia f. conscire be
privy to (as
com-, scire know)]
